Tilting elevator



Feb. 1o,` 1970 J, MCFADDEN 3,494,484

T'ILTING ELEVATOR vFiled July so, 1998 4 `sheets-sheet 1 Fre. J. I

ATTOEA/EV Feb. 1o, 1970 E; J. MCFADDEN TILTING ELEVATOR4 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed July 30, 1968v A T 70K/MEV Feb. l0, 1970 E. J. McFADDl-:N

-TILTING ELEVATOR 4 sheetssheret s Filed July 30, 1968 Feb. 1o, 1970 4E, J MCFADDEN 3,494,484

TILT ING ELEVATOR El@ J0.

INVENTOR DM/AZ@ JT MCF/I/V BY Zi@ United States Patent O 3,494,484TILTING ELEVATOR Edward J. McFadden, Houston, Tex., assignor to ByronJackson, Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed July30, 1968, Ser. No. 748,700 Int. Cl. E21b 19/06; B66c 1/56 U.S. Cl.214-25 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elevator for Well pipeand the like having cam mechanism thereon adapted to tilt the elevatorautomatically for mounting on a horizontally racked pipe, andillustrated as applied to a side opening elevator, the cam meanscomprising an upstanding pair of cam arms with a counterweighted pipereceiving saddle on the top rear portion of the elevator body, and adoor with a detent retaining it in open position during tilting, with afinger projecting into the elevator bore adapted to contact a pipe beingengaged and close the door automatically, the door having self-latchingand locking mechanism. The saddle remains engaged on the pipe untilapproximately the position where the joint seats in the bore, whereuponthe saddle disengages from the pipe and the cam means becomesinoperative.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention has to do with an improvedelevator for picking up a stand or section of drill pipe which has beenhorizontally racked. In the past it has been necessary to manually tiltthe elevator for this purpose, and this required considerable effort andusually the use of special tools inasmuch as the elevator is very heavyand difficult to tilt for placing on a pipe which is in a horizontalposition. Frequently for this purpose one or more holes into theelevator body have been provided and the operator has had to insert arod or bar therein and exert considerable eifort to swing the elevatoron the links so that the pipe receiving bore is in horizontal alignment.Also, such arrangement usually required that the operator had to pullthe elevator away from the end of the pipe and then push it onto thepipe, while at the same time controlling the hoisting mechanism to alignthe elevator bore with the pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an elevator which will overcome the above-mentioned problems ofplacing the elevator on a horizontally racked stand of pipe.

It is a further object in this connection to provide an arrangementwhereby the elevator may be lowered by the hoisting mechanism to aposition below the pipe, the horizontally racked pipe may be movedbetween the elevator links, and then the elevator raised to engage thepipe and latch thereto.

In this connection it is an object to provide an arrangement wherein theraising of the elevator will automatically cause it to tilt and latchonto the pipe by merely raising the elevator against the bottom of thepipe.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangementkwherein the elevator has mechanism thereon for automatically tilting itfor attachment to a horizontally racked stand of pipe, but whichmechanism is automatically disengaged when the stand of pipe has beenhoisted to a vertical position and does not interfere with the normaluses of the elevator for other purposes, such as lowering pipe into thewell, or use of the elevator for 3,494,484 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 ICChorizontally racking pipe which is being removed from or run out of awell.

It is a still further object to provide an arrangement which assists instabilizing the pipe with respect to the elevator while the pipe isbeing raised from the horizontal position.

It is an object to provide an arrangement which eliminates the need forracking stands of pipe in a derrick or mast and thus eliminates the needfor vertical racking equipment in the derrick or mast.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and thenovel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sideelevational view illustrating schematically a well derrick and hoistingequipment, a horizontal racking arrangement, and means for positioning astand of pipe for engagement by an elevator;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view showing an elevator forming thesu-bject matter of the present invention with a pipe positioned forengagement thereby, the pipe and links of the elevator being illustratedin a fragmentary manner;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the elevator in theposition where it is being tilted for placing on the pipe;

FIG. 4 is an elevational View, partly in cross section, taken on theline 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 butillustrating the elevator engaged on the pipe, With the door closed,certain portions of the view having been cut away to better illustratethe mechanism and parts thereof being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the relativeposition of the mechanism in a continued lifting of the elevator withthe pipe held therein;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the relative positions ofthe parts of the mechanism when the elevator has reached its uppermostposition and the pipe is hanging vertically therein;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view, certain parts which are shown infull line being shown in phantom in another position; and

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view, the supporting links being brokenaway to better illustrate the arrangement, certain portions of theelevator being shown in dotted lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring next to the structureshown in the various figures and referring rst to FIG. 1, there is shownschematically a well derick 21 such as that used for oil wells, theshowing being fragmentary. A block 22 and its attached hook 23, whichblock and hook may be conventional, are shown as suspended by thewireline 24. The wireline 24, as shown, is fragmentary, and in normalpractice extends to the crown block and to a drawworks in theconventional manner for raising and lowering the block and hookassembly. The crown block and drawworks are `not illustrated inasmuch asthey are common in well drilling operations.

The hook 23 has suspended therefrom the usual elevator links (link 25being illustrated in FIG. 1), to which is attached an elevator 26 of thetype herein described. A rotary table 27 is shown on the floor of thederrick and has illustrated therein a pipe 28 extending into a well bore(not shown) and retained suspended in the rotary table by slips 29 inposition to have attached thereto an additional stand of pipe to beplaced in position by the elevator.

As shown in FIG. 1, a stand of pipe 31 (usually threethirty feet longsections joined together) has been horizontally racked and is to beraised to a vertical position. Pipe 31 has been tilted upwardly,preferably to an angle from the horizontal of approximately at its innerend which has a shouldered tool joint or box end 30, by the lifter orsupport 32 (shown schematically), and has been moved longitudinallyinwardly toward the well bore or center from a horizontal rack 33 bymeans of a dolly 34, which dolly supports the outer end of said standand which dolly 34 operates on a track 35. In actual practice, the dolly34 is usually attached to a drive chain or other device (not shown)which is loperable to move the dolly, and thus the pipe stand 31, in alongitudinal direction either toward the well bore or away from the wellbore, depending on whether the pipe is being picked up or laid down.FIGURE l illustrates schematically how the pipe may be elevated slightlyat its inner end on support 32 and moved by dolly 34 into a positionwhere the pipe is between the links of the elevator and extends acrossthe top of the elevator 26, with the pipe tool joint 30 extendedlaterally past the elevator, the pipe 31 being in position to be engagedby the elevator 26 for hoisting into the derrick by means of the block22, hook 23 and links (illustrated by links 25 and 36; see FIGS. 9 and10i).

Referring next to the construction shown in FIGS. 9 and in particular,there is here disclosed an elevator known to the trade as a side-doorelevator with the present invention illustrated thereon and with whichthe present invention is particularly useful. Basically, the elevator 26here disclosed is similar to that shown and described in U.S. LettersPatent No. 2,215,649, to G. E. Mullinix, issued Sept. 24, 1940.

The elevator 26 is shown as suspended by the links 25 and 36, which, inturn, are suspended from hook 23. The elevator includes a body 37,having lwhat may be termed a substantially semicircular bore 38extending vertically through the body, and with an open throat or front40 for receiving a pipe (not shown in'FIGS. 9 and 10), such as pipe 31as shown in FIG. 1.

The body 37 has a pair of laterally disposed link arms 43 and 44, one oneach side thereof, which are bifurcated or slotted as shown at 45 and46, respectively, into which the eyes of the links 25 and 36 are looselyheld forming the support for the elevator 26. Keeper 47 extends acrossthe slot 45 and keeper 48 extends across the slot 46, to preventdisplacement of the links 25 and 36 from their respective slots. Thisarrangement is conventional.

A closure member, herein usually referred to as a door or gate 41, ishingedly connected to the body 37 at one side of the open throat 40 ofthe bore 38 and is shown as mounted on a vertical hinge pin `42. Thisdoor 41 is preferably of arcuate form so as to present a substantiallysemicircular pipe receiving socket or half bore 49 which, when the door41 is in its closed position, extends across the open throat 40 andcompletes the circumferential extent of the closure .of the bore 38through the elevator. Such arrangement retains any included pipe in thebore 38"against lateral displacement from the elevator.

The bore 38 has an arcuate seat 39, and the door 41 has an arcuate seat51 which, in the illustration shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, comprise a taperextending downwardly and inwardly of the bore 38 and half bore 49. Thistaper is for receiving the tapered end or what is generally called theshouldered tool joint or box end 30 of a pipe section, and acceptedstandards usually call for this taper to be approximately 18 from thevertical. Thus, when pipe tool joint 30 is seated in the bore 38, itwill be limited in.. its downward movement-so that the pipe joint isheld against dropping through the elevator and thus supports thedepending stand .or section of pipe. The half bore 49, when the door 41is closed, also assists in supporting the pipe by its joint or box end30 against such downward movement.

For purposes of description, and since this arrangement is well knownand basically disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to Mullinix, thecombined seat means 39 and 51 usually will be referred to as a jointseat, although the seat 39 is adequate to retain the pipe box end in theelevator against purely vertical downward movement.

The door 41, as will be clear from FIG. 9 in particular, may be openedby swinging the door outwardly around the hinge pin 42 until a shoulderhits the body 37, as shown at 52, thus serving as a stop to position thedoor in its opened attitude. The door has a handle 53, and a latch lug54 adapted to be engaged by the latch 55. The latch 55 is pivoted on apin or bolt 56 and is urged into the latching position by the spring 57.In other words, when the door is closed the lug 54 strikes the latch 55and moves past the outer end or margin thereof, allowing the latch toseat in position to hold the door closed. A latch lock 58, which isspring urged to a locking position, is carried on the end of the latch55 and is mounted thereon by means of a lock pin 5-9 which extendsthrough end lugs `61 on the latch 55; and latch lock spring 62 urges thelatch lock 58 toward engagement Awith a catch pin 60, into the lockingposition. Handle 63 which is integral with the latch lock 58 enables theoperator to swing the latch lock 58 to the open position at which pointa stop 64 will engage the latch 55 and will cause the latch 55 to swingto the open position releasing the door 41 and allowing it to be swungopen. This arrangement is generally similar in most respects to that inthe above-mentioned Mullinix patent.

Also, there is a door closing nger 65, which is integral with the door`41 and is adapted to extend into the opening or throat y40 of the bore38 when the door 41 is open, and rest in the-recess 66, shown in dottedlines in FIG. 9, when the door is closed, as shown in the broken linephantom position in FIG. 9. Thus, when a stand of pipe strikes thefinger 65, the door 41 is moved to the closed position, and the latch 55and latch lock 58 automatically secure the door and retain the pipeagainst lateral displacement.

For the purpose of retaining the door open, although readily overcome torelease the same to allow it to close, there is provided a detent 67-which engages a complementary recess 70. In this particular elevatorsuch a detent is desirable inasmuch as the tilting of the elevator wouldtend to close the door before the pipe would be in proper position ifthe door `was not held in open position. The detent, of course, isovercome and releases the door4 when the linger 65 is contacted by thepipe 31 to allow or cause the door to close. The importance of thisfeature will be more clearly evident from further descripton of theoperation of the device. As shown in FIG. 9, the detent v67 is holdingthe door open, by the detent engaging recess 70. The descriptionheretofore is primarily directed to structure which is well known anddisclosed in the prior art.

Continuing to refer primarily to FIGS. 9 and l0, but with occasionalreference to other figures, there is provided on what may be termed theback upper surface of the elevator, that is, on the top and away fromthe open front 40 of the bore 38, a cam assembly -68 Iwhich is operableto tilt the elevator automatically for picking up a horizontally rackedstand of pipe. As shown in the drawings, the structure comprisesupstanding cam arms 69- and 71 which are welded or otherwise attachedto, or may be formed integrally with, the body 37. Extending between thecam arms -69 and 71 at the upper ends thereof is a bolt or shaft '72 onwhich is mounted for pivotal movement a counterweighted cam 73, thebottom 74 of which is weighted or constructed so as to be com..

paratively heavy, and the upper part of which counterweighted cam 73preferably has a saddle 75 in the form of a V-shaped trough. The camassembly 68, as previously mentioned, is preferably positioned on therear portion of the top of the body 37, spaced from the bore 38 adistance giving clearance with respect to the box end or joint of pipeseated in said bore on seat 39 for the purpose hereinafter sho-wn. It isnoted that, because the cam 73 is heavier on the bottom than on theV-shaped trough portion, the V-shaped trough or saddle 75 remainsupright unless acted on by forces causing it to move about the shaft 72.

With the structure heretofore described, and referring again to FIG. 1and also to FIGS. 2 through 8, the elevator 26 is lowered to a positionnear the derrick floor, preferably just above the rotary table as shownin FIG. l. The stand of pipe 31 has had its inner or tool joint end 30lifted by the support 32 and has been moved longitudinally (to the left,as shown in FIG. 1) by use of the dolly 34 or any other convenientmeans, extending the left-hand end, the tool joint end, of the pipebetween the links 25 and 36 a short distance past the elevator, the pipebeing above the top of the elevator 26, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.With the elevator in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the pipeextending across the top of the elevator and aligned `with the open sideof the bore 38, and with the door swung open as indicated in FIGS. 2 and9, the elevator links 25 and 36 are raised by the block and hookassembly until the pipe 31 engages the V-shaped trough or saddle 75 ofthe counterweighted cam 73. Further movement of the elevator 26vertically causes the pipe 31 to seat firmly in the V-shaped trough orsaddle 75, as shown in FIG. 4, and the saddle 75 to begin its pivotabout the shaft 72, the cam '73 swinging slightly outwardly at thebottom to keep the saddle 75 generally perpendicular to the pipe 31.Continued movement upward of the elevator 26 causes the weight of thepipe to be exerted downwardly on the saddle 75 and the elevator willbegin to pivot on the links 2S and 36.

The elevator 26 moving around the pipe 31 to a position where the pipe31 enters the bore 38 (see FIG. 3), brings the linger 465 into contactwith the pipe and causes the finger 65 to move toward the recess 66.This overcomes the detent 67, allowing or causing the door 41 to closeand latch, as shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the counterweightedcam 73 has remained with its saddle f 75 engaging the pipe 31; and thecam 73 extends generally perpendicular to the pipe 31 in the positionsillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. The upward movement of the elevator 26under the influence of the links 25 and 36 caused the elevator to assumethe position illustrated in FIG. 5, in Iwhich position thecounterweighted cam 73 is generally perpendicular to the pipe 31, theelevator having been placed around the pipe and the door having beenautomatically closed and latched, thus attaching the elevator firmly tothe pipe 31.

Continued upward movement of the elevator 26 causes the pipe 31 to sliderelatively downward in the bore 38, the showing of FIG. 6 illustratingthis occurrence, and the counterweighted cam 73 to move upwardly ontothe box end 30 of the pipe, normally tilting to a position(approximately 120 from the axis of the pipe) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.This occurs just prior to the seating of the tapered portion of the boxend or joint 30 in the seat 39, 52 of the Abore 38 and door 41.

Continued raising of the elevator 26 will, as indicated in FIG. 8, carrythe elevator upward on the pipe to where the tapered portion of the boxend or joint 30 has seated on the seat 39, 52 of the bore 38 and door41, bringing the end of the box end or joint 30 to where the saddle 75slides off the end, allowing the counterweighted cam 73 to swing backinto normal disengaged position. Such movement of the box end or joint30 allows the saddle 75 to assume the vertical position as indicated infull lines in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the stand of pipe 31 has assumed essentially avertical position and is being supported by the elevator 26. In theposition shown in FIG. 8, the pipe 31 is ready to be joined to the wellstring by attaching it to the pipe 28 in the Well-known manner. Theelevator is then used to lower the string including the stand 31 intothe well, the slips 29 having been released for that purpose. When thestring is lowered to a position where the box end or joint 30 is abovethe rotary table, as indicated in FIG. 1, the operator opens the door 41in the manner previously described and the elevator is released from thestring, the slips 29 having been replaced t0 hold the string forattachment of another stand of pipe.

It is noted that when the door 41 is opened to release the elevator fromthe string of pipe, the detent 67 engages the recess 70 and the doorremains open until the elevator is attached to another stand of pipe.This eliminates the need for the operator to hold the door open whilethe elevator is placed on the stand.

It will be noted that when the cam assembly is in the position shown inFIG. 8, that is, disengaged from the stand of pipe, it is out of the waywith respect to other uses of the elevator. Thus the elevator may beused for lowering the stand into the well, or for laying down pipe in ahorizontal racking operation.

The cam assembly herein disclosed or its equivalent may be applied toother forms of elevators, with or without the automatic means forclosing the door, inasmuch as it is of value for the purpose of tiltingthe elevator and eliminating the dangers to the operator, and the effortrequired for that purpose. Other forms of door opening and closure meanscan be adapted to the arrangement, especially power operated doormanipulating devices, without detracting from the merits of theinvention disclosed. Other forms of camming devices are feasible, butthe device herein shownV is believed to be superior to any other formfor the purpose disclosed in respect to the side-opening elevator hereillustrated.

While the specific details of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, changes and alterations may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a well pipe elevator for raising, supporting and lowering pipe, anelevator body; means for lifting said elevator body including a linkreceiving and retaining means on each side of said elevator body; a borethrough said elevator open at the front for the entry and exit of pipelaterally thereof; closure means operable to clear the front of saidbore to the lateral entry and exit of pipe with respect thereto, and toclose across the front of said bore to retain pipe in said bore againstlateral displacement; seat means adapted to receive and support a pipejoint to limit the downward movement of pipe through said bore; thoseimprovements for positioning the elevator to a pipe extending across andabove said elevator in a generally horizontal angle aligned with saidbore, such as horizontally racked pipe, comprising:

cam means mounted on said elevator body and offset to the rear of saidbore, said cam means including a pivoted member adapted to engage suchpipe, said cam means operable to tilt said elevator to a generallyhorizontal position.

2. An elevator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam means arepositioned on the top of said elevator body and extend verticallyupwardly therefrom, said cam means being offset to the rear of saidelevator in alignment with the closed side of said bore.

3. An elevator as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cam means isadapted to contact said pipe upon raising of said elevator, to placesaid elevator on said pipe, and wherein said closure means isconstructed and operable automatically to close and latch said elevatoron said pipe by continued upward movement of said elevator under theinfluence of said elevator lifting means.

4. An elevator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam means comprisesa pair of upstanding cam arms having shaft means extending therebetween,and said pivoted member comprises a counterweighted cam having a pipereceiving saddle mounted for pivotal movement on said shaft.

5. An elevator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam means comprisesupstanding support means for said pivoted member, said pivoted memberbeing pivoted to said support means on a horizontal axis olset to therear of said bore and having a pipe receiving saddle spaced from saidaxis a distance substantially equal to the distance that said axis isoffset to the rear of said bore.

6. In a well pipe elevator for raising, supporting and lowering pipe, anelevator body; means receiving and retaining an elevator supporting linkon each side of said elevator body; a bore through said elevator open atthe front for entry and exit of pipe laterally thereof; closure meansmovable across the open front of said bore, adapted to open to allow thelateral entry and exit of pipe with respect to said bore, and to closeto retain pipe in said bore against lateral displacement; seat meansadapted to receive and support a pipe joint to limit the downwardmovement of said pipe through said bore; those improvements forpositioning and attaching the elevator to a horizontally racked pipecomprising:

(a) cam means carried by said elevator body on the rear thereof andopposite said open front of said bore, said cam means including apivoted member adapted to engage a pipe aligned with said bore andextending from front to rear across the top of said elevator body, andto which pipe said elevator is to be latched, and to tilt said elevatorwith the open front of said bore up when said elevator is raised againstsaid pipe with said closure means open, whereby said bore is movedaround said pipe; and

(b) means automatically closing said closure means upon continuedraising of said elevator, whereby said elevator is secured to said pipe.

7. An elevator as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cam means comprisesspaced upstanding cam arms, and said pivoted member comprises acounterweighted pipe receiving saddle mounted between said cam arms forpivotal movement.

8. In a method of attaching a pipe elevator having a body to a generallyhorizontally racked pipe in which the elevator body is supported by asupporting link on each side of said elevator body, and the elevatorbody has upwardly extending cam means including a pivoted member on thetop rear portion of said elevator body and a bore which extends from thetop to the bottom thereof and is open in the front for the reception ofpipe, said body including a seat in alignment with said bore for receiptof a pipe joint in the top portion thereof, said method comprising thesteps of: placing said elevator under a generally horizontallypositioned pipe having the joint end Aextending between said links andpast the top of said elevator, raising said elevator to engage saidpivoted member of said cam means against the bottom of said pipe, andcontinuing the raising of said elevator while maintaining said pivotedmember so engaged whereby said cam causes said elevator to tilt from thevertical to a generally horizontal position and said elevator body to beswung around said pipe to where said pipe rests in said bore, andfurther continuing the raising of said elevator to elevate said jointend of said pipe and to cause said elevator to slide longitudinallyalong said pipe until said pipe joint seats in said elevator seat.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, in which said elevator includes adoor, said method including the additional step of closing said door andthereby retaining said pipe in said elevator bore.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, in which said door has automaticclosing and latching means, the additional step wherein said elevator iscaused to actuate said automatic door closing means and in turn saidlatching means by lifting said elevator against said cam means untilsaid pipe enters said bore, thereby attaching said elevator to said pipeand latching said closure means to retain said pipe in said bore.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, in which said cam means includesspaced upstanding cam arms and said pivoted member comprises acounter-weighted pipe receiving saddle pivotally mounted therebetween,the method wherein said pipe is seated on said saddle by raising saidelevator, causing said saddle to pivot in contact with said pipe, andcontinuing the raising of said elevator whereby said pipe movesvertically downward into said elevator seat, and thereby causing saidpipe receiving saddle to disengage from said pipe rendering said cammeans inoperative with respect to further handling of said pipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/ 1940 Mullinix 294-90 4/1941Wilson 294-90 U.S. Cl. X.R.

